Torrance Center Summer Institute: Reimagined for Teachers and Practitioners

  • Dates: Tuesday-Friday, June 8-11
  • Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
  • Location: Zoom
  • Register today

Join us virtually for the Torrance Center Summer Institute: Reimagined for Teachers and Practitioners as we explore the principles of creative thinking as a framework for curriculum development, classroom teaching, and assessment. Designed around research-based strategies for integrating creativity into the classroom, the four-day training will revolve around three key strands of the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking-Figural (TTCT-Figural), equity-based and culturally responsive practices in gifted education and using creative strategies for standards-based classrooms. Educators will leave with practical creative strategies for enhancing their overall classroom instruction.

Morning strand (optional)

Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking Training

  • Time: 8 a.m.-noon
  • Facilitator: Sarah Sumners, associate research scientist, Torrance Center

This training will focus on the administration, scoring, interpretation, and scorer certification for the TTCT-Figural. Follow-up scoring after the workshop concludes is required for reliability certification.

Afternoon strands (choose one)

Using Creative Strategies for Standards-Based Classrooms: Elevating and Engaging Student Learning Training

  • Time: 1-4 p.m.
  • Facilitator: Meg Hines, senior lecturer, Department of Educational Psychology

This strand will prepare students to be creative problem-solvers in the classroom and allow them to use the tools for creative thinking and problem solving while they meet and expand the standards that are required. Using individual and small group tasks, participants will engage in creativity strategy via content disciplines.

Diversity, Equity, and Creativity Building

  • Time: 1-4 p.m.
  • Facilitators: Tarek Grantham, professor, Department of Educational Psychology; and doctoral students Annessia Bullard and Thelron Pleas

Building on the scholarship and work of Mary Frasier and E. Paul Torrance, this strand will focus on the role of creativity and advocacy when working with students from diverse backgrounds. Participants will learn to use tools such as Frasier’s Traits, Aptitudes, and Behaviors (TABs) referral instrument and Torrance’s Creative Positives for working with students from underrepresented populations.

Discounts are available for graduate students and full-time faculty and staff.